By Staff Reporter
Harare – Health and Child Care minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora, has confirmed two cases of Mpox in Zimbabwe.
During a press briefing in the capital, Harare, Dr Mombeshora stated that the affected individuals are currently in isolation and receiving appropriate medical care.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to inform the nation that Zimbabwe now has two (2) confirmed cases of Mpox: one in Harare and another in Mberengwa.
“Both cases are in isolation at home, and are receiving appropriate care,” said Dr Mombeshora.
Mpox, formerly known as Monkeypox, was declared a Public Health Emergency of Continental Security by the Africa Centre for Disease Control (CDC) on August 13, 2024.
Subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on August 14, 2024.
As of 2024, Africa has reported 7,535 confirmed Mpox cases and 32 deaths.
In Zimbabwe, case number 1 is an 11-year-old male child who traveled to South Africa in August 2024 and returned to Zimbabwe on September 10, 2024.
Symptoms appeared on September 23, 2024.
The child is now in home isolation and is no longer infectious.
Seven contacts have been identified and are under surveillance.
Case number 2 is a 24-year-old male who traveled to Tanzania on September 14, 2024, and returned on September 21, 2024.
He developed symptoms on September 29, 2024. Similar to case 1, and is currently in home isolation and is no longer infectious.
Contact tracing and monitoring are ongoing.
